Chaeles a



0. A. DAVIS.

RAILWAY GAR.

(No Model.)

Patented May 29, 1888.

NITE TATES ATENT Fries,

RAI LWAY CA R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,712, dated May 29,1888.

Application filed February 21, 1888. Serial No. 264,740. lNIo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. DAVIS, of \Vashington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailway-Oars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway-cars for the transportation oflivestockfimore particularly horses-and is designed as an improvementupon the cars for which Letters Patent were granted to me dated andnumbered, respectively, October 25, 1887, No. 371,928, and Jan nary 3,1888, No. 375,989.

The improvements relate to the partitions by which the car is dividedinto separate stalls or compartments, and are designed to simplify theconstruction and facilitate the handling of said partitions, and to giveto them an elasticity which will materially add to their efficiency andlessen the danger of breakage or in ury. a

In its general plan and arrangement the car may, and preferably will be,simrlar to those described in my prior patents above mentioned, thoughit is to be understood that I do not restrict my claims upon thepartition and its attendant parts to any particular plan or kind of car,proposing to use it in any and all places where it may be foundserviceable or desirable.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a portion of a car, looking from one end toward the middle, showingpartitions constructed in accordance with my presentinvention as theyappear when the animals are in their stalls; Fig. 2, a crosssection of acar, showing one of the parti tions folded out of the way and another inposition; Fig. 3, a perspective view of a yielding support provided forthe hinge-rod; Fig. 4, a perspective View of the swivel with which oneend of the main partition-plank is furnished. I

In constructing cars of this class it is desirable to avoid, as far aspossible, complication of its movable parts, to insure due strengththereof, and to provide for a certain amount of elasticity or play ofthe stall-partitions in order to relieve them of severe shock or suddenstrain, and for the purposes also of relieving the animals of such shockand compensating in a measure for variations in size of differentanimals. These results I attain very satisfactorily by the constructionwhich I will now explain.

A indicates the body of a car, of ordinary construction for such use,provided at one end with a series of vertical rods, B, of cylindricalform, arranged at suitable distances apart, close to the side wall ofthe car, and extend ing from a point at or near the floor of the car toa point at or near the roof or ceiling thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and2.

At a suitable distance from the opposite side of the car, usually fromtwo to two and onehalf feet for horse-cars, I arrange a series ofvertical posts or standards, 0, which may be of wood or metal, and whichare arranged in pairs, with a space of from one to two inches, more orless, between them, there being one pair of such posts or standards foreach vertical rod B. By placing these posts 0 at a suitable distanceaway from the side wall of the car an aisle or alley, D, is formed,enabling the attendant to pass readily past the stalls from end to endof the series, and affording space for a manger, E, along the fronts ofsaid stalls, as explained in my former patents.

In the manger I propose to place, in front of each stall, a box, F, forfeed or water, and

for economy of space I prefer to hinge the manger front, (which may bein one contin nous length or in sections,) sothat it may fold up awayfrom the middle of theaisle. The vertical rods, B are sustained at theirupper and lower ends by supporting blocks,brackets, or staples G, andmay be held rigidly against side play in said supports or arranged tomove a limited distance laterally in either or both of said supports.

In practice I prefer to make the lower end stationary and to provide-fora limited lateral play of the upper end. To provide for such lateralplay, I employ, preferably, a guide block or casting, G, of the formshown in Fig. 3, consisting of a hollow or box-like casting, providedwith perforated cars a for attachment to the wall or timbers of the car,and having a slot or slots, b, through which the end of the rod passesand in which it plays, or merely a hole for the rod, if side play is notdesired. If the lower end of the rod be held rigidly in position, theelasticity of the rod will permit its upper end to move the-length ofthe guide slot or slots, and will serve to hold its upper end normallyin a medial position; but if the lower end be not thus rigidly held Iprefer to .place at each side of the rod, within the block or casting G,a spring, H, of metal, rubber, or other substance, which shall serve tohold the rod normally at the mid-length of the slot. This block orcasting G, with or without springs, may be used at either end or at bothends of the rod, as deemed expedient.

I indicates a swinging partition section provided with hinge straps orirons J, which encircle the rod B, there being one such section carriedby each rod. This section I is furnished at its upper end, near itsfront edge, with a pin, a, and at its lower end, near its front edge,with a pin, d, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, their purpose being to holdthe section I against side play or to limit such play. The pin (1 at thelower end enters a socket or a slot, 0, in the floor of the car, andthepin c at the upper end enters a socket in a main partition board orsection, K, which extends from rod B to and between a pair of the postsor standards 0, said board'or section being sustained at one end byattachment to the rod B and extending above and in line with section I,upon which its rear end rests, as shown.

The board K should be of strong tough woodas, for instance, oak orhickoryand of such width and thickness as to give due strength withadvisably a considerable degree of elasticity under the side pressure orstrain to which the partitions will be subj ected in practical use. Oneend of partition-board K is furnished with a metal loop or eye-piece, L,having an elongated opening to receive the rod B and to permit theraising or lowering of either end of the board independently of theother. This eye-piece may be rigidly affixed to the board, or be formedwith a cylindrical shank or stem, f, and said stem be swiveled in asuitable metallic plate or block, M, bolted or otherwise secured to theboard K. The adoption of one or the other of these modes of attachmentwill depend upon or will determine the manner of stowing away the boardwhen not in use, said board being in either case raised to the top ofthe car, and there suscar by a chain, rope, or band, 0, which isadvisably used in any event, to prevent the end of the board fallingbelow its normal level, even when withdrawn from between the posts orstandards 0 0.

To prevent undue lateral movement of the rods B by reason of their ownelasticity, I provide for each, at a point just below the upper latterplan is perhaps preferable.

horses are successively placed in the spaces allotted to them, and thatthe same explana tion applies to all: WVhen ready for use, the car isopen and unobstructed from end to end, except as to the posts 0 C andthe niangers, the partition-sections I being at such time folded orswung back against the side of the car and the partition-boards K raisedto the top of the car and placed upon the hooks or hangers. A horse isnow led into the car, carried to one end, and haltered or tied. Thesection I of the partition which is to separate said horse from the nextis then swung outward until its lower pin, (1, drops into the hole ornotch e in the floor. The partition-board K is then lifted off orreleased from the hangers N and lowered, its rear end being droppedfarther than its forward end in order that the latter may be passedbetween the posts 0 0, provided to receive and sustain it. The end isthen inserted between the posts, and, finally, the board K is lowered toa horizontal position, its rear end resting upon the rear section I,with which it is connected by the pin 0 of said section entering thesocket in the board K, and its forward end resting upon the manger orbeing sustained by the chain or band, as the case may be, and being heldagainst upward movement by any suitable form of catch or fastening.

The socket made in board K to receive pin a will of course be bushedwith metal, or otherwise suitably protected against wear,

it being preferred to apply a piece of plateiron, Q, to the lower. edgeand sides of said board, extending the same somewhat each way from thesocket and bolting or riveting through the board and plate from side toside to guard against any weakening of the board by the socket. Thearrangement may obviously be reversed, the pin being carried by theboard and the socket being formed in ICC section I of the partition, asin Fig. 2, and this 7 One partition after another is thus made up untilall are completed and the car isready for travel. The

boards K being free at one end, as to longitudi- Y nal movement, it willbe seen that they may yield laterally to whatever extent allowed by theelasticity of the board K or the rod B, or to the extent permitted bythe guide-blocks G, the rear sections I moving in unison with the upperboards or sections K. This clasticit-y and freedom of limited movementcauses the partitions to take up gradually the pressure or force broughtagainst them by the movements of the animals and in the sudden stoppingand starting ofthe car, and greatly lessens the danger of breakagethereof and reduces the liability of injury to the horses. It alsoautomatically provides for slight difference in size of the animals.

It will be seen that by arranging the rods B to turn in the blocks G thenecessity for using cylindrical rods would be removed; but I prefer thembecause of their cheapness, strength, and general suitability. Tubularrods may be used to advantage, combining greater strength withlightness. Ihe placing of the guide straps or staples Pbelow instead ofabove the upper hinge strap of section I leaves said section free to helifted to a considerable height from the floor, as is necessary in orderto clear the accumulation of manure in unloading or in cleaning out thecar after an extended trip, and at the same time the necessary supportis afforded. The rear section I will ordinarily extend about one-thirdacross the stall-space, but may be wider or narrower, as foundexpedient.

It is not absolutely essential that the rear section be hinged; but itis desirable that it be so.

The partitionboardsK may extend a greater or less distance beyond theposts 0 G, and their ends may be cut off at an angle, if necessary, tofacilitate their removal from between the posts.

I am aware that a jointed partition designed to yield laterally is old,and I make no claim thereto; but I am not aware that a continuouspartition has ever been provided with a yield-' ing end support, andthereby adapted to move laterally without the aid ofjoints.

My construction is simple, cheap, durable, and efficient.

It is of course apparent that instead of two posts 0 a single post witha side bar or guide may be used, and this I deem as falling within myinvention and the equivalent of the two posts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1 In a car, apartition consisting of a rear section extendingfrom the rear wall (3fthe stallspace partially across said space and adapted to fold againstsaid rear wall, and an independently-removable continuous section aboveand in line with said rear section, adapted to be raised vertically tothe upper part of the car.

2. In a car, the combination of a partition and a laterally-yieldingsupport for the end of said partition, whereby it is adapted to yieldlaterally.

3. In a car, a partition consisting of a hinged rear section extendingpartially across the stallspace, and an upper section extending entirelyacross said space, the two sections being pro vided with connectingdevices, substantially as described and shown, whereby they may beconnected and caused to act in unison in re sisting side pressure orindependently stowed away.

4. In combination with hinged partition-section I and partition board orsection K, a pin extending from one into a socket in the other andserving to connect the two while in use, but to permit their readyseparation.

5. In a car, the combination of a rear partition a section hinged toswing horizontally against a wall of the car, a partition board orsection immediately above and in line with the rear section, extendingentirely across the space to be partitioned and free to be raised andlowered at both ends, a fixed support to which one end of thepartition-board or upper section is attached, and posts or supportsbetween which the opposite end of said board is passed.

G. In a car, the combination of a vertical rod at one side and posts orsupports at the opposite side of the space to be partitioned, a rearpartition-section hinged to said rod and ar ranged to swinglaterally,and a partition board or section above and in line with therear section, provided at one end with an. eye to encircle the rod andhaving its other end ex-- tended between and sustained by two of theposts or supports.

7. In a car, the combination of a vertical rod at one side of the spaceto bepartitioned, posts or supports at the opposite side thereof, and apartition board provided at one end with a swivel eye encircling therod, whereby the board is rendered capable of being raised and loweredand turned aboutits longitudinal axis from a vertical to a horizontalplane, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In combination with rod B and posts 00, partition-board K, providedwith aswivel-eye to encircle the rod, and a hanger or supportin theupper part of the car to receive and sup port the partition-board.

9. In a car, the combination of a partition and an upright rod orsupport therefor capable of movement transversely to the length of thestall.

10. In a car, the combination of a partition, an upright orsupporttherefor capableofmove ment transversely to the length of thepartition, a guide or guides to limit said movement, and springs bearingagainst the movable support and serving to restore it to itsnormalposition.

11. In a car, the combination of vertical rod B, posts 0 O,partition-section I, hinged to swing about said rod, and partition-boardK, having an eye or loop to encircle the rod'an'd extending between theposts 0 C.

12. In combination with rod B and with a partition supported thereby, aguide, 1?, to hold the rod in position and limit its lateral movement. I

13. In combination with a vertical rod, B, and a partition hingedthereto, slotted support G, for said rod, provided with springs H,substantially as described and shown.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

Witnesses: CHARLES A. DAVIS.

ANDREW PARKER, WILLIAM W. Donen.

